A Rising Star in Research: Lakeridge Health Physician Honoured for Novel Sepsis Study

At the heart of every medical breakthrough is someone who dares to ask, “Can we do better?” At Lakeridge Health, Dr. Shannon Fernando—a dedicated critical care physician—isn’t just asking that question; he’s answering it. His bold vision and tireless commitment to research and innovation are helping shape the future of sepsis care.

Dr. Fernando was recently awarded the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group Early Investigator Award, a prestigious national honour that celebrates his groundbreaking research – and marks a historic moment for Lakeridge Health: the launch of our first-ever investigator-led clinical trial.

Sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, remains one of the leading causes of death in Intensive Care Units around the world, with mortality rates approaching 40 per cent. For years, treatment options have remained largely unchanged. But Dr. Fernando and Dr. Karim Soliman (Medical Director of Critical Care) noticed something: across Canada, physicians were using methylene blue, a medication traditionally used to treat a blood condition, as a last-ditch effort to treat septic shock.

"When clinicians are using a drug off-label as a last resort, it’s our responsibility to study whether it actually works," explains Dr. Fernando. “We recognized a gap in our understanding of methylene blue and saw a real opportunity to investigate whether it could become a new treatment option for sepsis as an early intervention; not just as a last resort. If it’s effective, it could be a more affordable and accessible option, especially for patients in remote or low-resource settings.”

With the support of Lakeridge Health’s dedicated Research team, Dr. Fernando led the charge to design and launch a pilot study – an ambitious initiative that required Health Canada approval, full research ethics review, and the build-out of a dedicated research framework.

Backed by $25,000 in seed funding from the Lakeridge Health Foundation and Ajax Pickering Hospital Foundation, the study is set to launch in the coming weeks – offering new hope to patients and families impacted by sepsis and charting a new course for research excellence at Lakeridge Health.

“Shannon’s passion and persistence are unmatched,” says Carley McPherson, Director of Research. “He’s not only a remarkable physician, but a visionary researcher and leader. He’s an absolute rising star.”

For Dr. Nadia Ismiil, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Academic Affairs and Research, the launch of this clinical trial is a powerful symbol of what’s possible when innovation, compassion, and collaboration come together.

“Clinical trials like this don’t just test new treatments, they transform care,” she says. “We are so proud of Dr. Fernando, our exceptional research and clinical teams, and our Foundation partners. Together, they are helping shape a healthier future, not just for our patients, but for people across the country.”

For more information about Research at Lakeridge Health, click here. You can also hear more from Dr. Fernando and Carley McPherson about life-saving research in this episode of Brace for Impact podcast.